Language Policy Impacts on Educational Outcomes in Multilingual African States: A Comparative Perspective

Language policies in multilingual African states often aim to promote national unity while accommodating linguistic diversity. In Nigeria, for example, there are diverse indigenous languages alongside English and Hausa, which is the official language at federal level. We employed a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from national surveys with qualitative insights from interviews and focus groups in selected states. Findings indicate that the use of indigenous languages as medium of instruction significantly improves student performance, particularly in areas where these languages are spoken natively. Our findings suggest that integrating more local languages into educational curricula can enhance learning outcomes and promote inclusivity. Governments should consider mandating the use of multiple languages in schools to better reflect linguistic diversity and improve educational efficacy.